Research Interests

I am interested in the following research areas: (1) identification of risk and protective factors for cancer; (2) identification of prognostic biomarkers for cancer disease progression; (3) identification of predictors for adverse events associated with cancer treatment; and (4) utilization of HPV vaccine. Currently, I am leading several cancer epidemiology projects at Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC), with an emphasis on non-Hodgkin lymphoma and HIV-related malignancies. I am particularly interested in tissue-based research. In my project of HIV-related diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, we performed tissue microarray and IHC staining to investigate the prognostic significance of several viral markers, cell cycle regulators and anti-apoptotic proteins, utilizing the comprehensive clinical information available at KPSC. My other studies aim at studying the risk/protective factors for cancer development, including the role of certain dietary intake, pharmacological agents and immunomodulation.

Studies
Publications

Chronic Health Problems in Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer

Chun Chao, PhD, MS, Principal Investigator

Funding source:American Cancer Society

Funding Years:2015-2019

The goal of this project is to evaluate the long-term health outcomes, including mortality, second cancer and comorbidities among survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer. The magnitude of risk increase of specific late effects associated with specific cancer therapeutic exposure will also be characterized.

Identification of DNA methylation markers for risk of metastasis in localized prostate

Chun Chao, PhD, MS, Principal Investigator

Funding source:National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Funding Years:2015-2019

The goal of this project is to develop DNA methylation marker-based prediction algorithms that will assist clinicians when providing therapeutic recommendations for men with localized prostate cancer.

Symptom Burden of Chemotherapy Induced Anemia - Amgen 2 of 3

Chun Chao, PhD, MS, Principal Investigator

Funding source:Amgen, Inc.

Funding Years:2014-2016

The goals of this observational study are to understand the prevalence of symptoms associated with chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) and how this may vary by CIA severity and patient characteristics.

Chemotherapy Induced Compliances: FN risk in selected regimens

Chun Chao, PhD, MS, Principal Investigator

Funding source:Amgen, Inc.

Funding Years:2014-2016

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the average risk of febrile neutropenia (FN) in patients receiving chemotherapy regimens with previously undefined FN risk.

The goals of this observational study is to evaluate clinical factors that are associated with the development of chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) and to develop a CIA risk prediction model.

Chun Chao, PhD, MS, Principal Investigator

Funding source:

Economic, Epidemiologic and Clinical Burden Associated with Neutropenia and Febrile Neutropenia in Three Cancers

Chun Chao, PhD, MS, Co-Investigator

Funding source:Amgen, Inc.

Funding Years:2011-2015

The primary objective of this study is to estimate the resource utilization and direct medical expenditure associated with neutropenia and febrile neutropenia, in Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Breast cancer and Lung cancer patients. The secondary objective is to determine the trend of incidence of neutropenia with and without fever in Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Breast cancer and Lung cancer. The study will also describe management patterns and evaluate trend of management patterns for febrile neutropenia. Lastly, we will also estimate the febrile neutropenia specific mortality rate in hospitalized patients by cancer type.

Post-Licensure Safety Study of ISENTRESS in a U.S. Managed Care Network

Chun Chao, PhD, MS, Co-Investigator

Funding source:Merck & Co., Inc.

Funding Years:2009-2016

The goals of this project are to monitor and compare the incidence of adverse events among HIV-infected patients treated with the newly approved antiretroviral drug, ISENTRESS (Raltegravir), with that among concurrent and historical cohorts of HIV-infected patients not receiving ISENTRESS.

An In-Depth Interview Study of Immunization Providers in a Large Managed Care Organization to Understand Practice Patterns, Barriers and Facilitators for Administering the 3-Dose HPV Vaccine Series

Chun Chao, PhD, MS, Principal Investigator

Funding source:Merck Sharp and Dohme Corp.

Funding Years:2013-2015

The primary objective of this study is to identify immunization providers’ opinions on practice patterns, barriers and facilitators for Gardasil 3-dose regimen completion among those who initiated the Gardasil vaccine.

This project’s goal is the creation of a Cervical Cancer Data & Research Unit, within an existing Kaiser Permanente Population-based Research Optimizing Screening Through Personalized Regimens (PROSPR) Research Center in order to completely evaluate the cervical cancer screening process and actively engage in PROSPR collaborative projects.

Molecular and Genetic Determinants of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Chun Chao, PhD, MS, Principal Investigator

Funding source:National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Funding Years:2012-2017

The goal of this study is to investigate whether the genetic variation in the human leukocyte antigen and other key a priori genes linked to human leukocyte antigen, including tumor necrosis factor play a role in non-Hodgkin lymphoma prognosis and overall survival.

A Cohort study of co-morbid conditions and risk of chemotherapy associated febrile neutropenia in patients with selected types of cancers in Kaiser Permanente Southern California

Chun Chao, PhD, MS, Principal Investigator

Funding source:Amgen, Inc.

The study objective is to examine the association between chronic co-morbid conditions and risk of FN/neutropenia associated with first cycle chemotherapy.

The goals of this study are to assess in HIV-infected patients, the degree of association between successful general clinical care by HIV disease-treating providers (reflected in overall adherence to recommended general prevention and screening guidelines) and higher-quality HIV-specific care and related clinical outcome.

Pilot Study of Neutropenia in Cancer Patients with Co-Morbid Conditions

Chun Chao, PhD, MS, Principal Investigator

Funding source:Amgen, Inc.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of determining the occurrence of neutropenia and febrile neutropenia as well as cancer treatment using electronic medical records.

Prognostic Markers for HIV Related Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

Chun Chao, PhD, MS, Principal Investigator

Funding source:National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Funding Years:2008-2013

The goals of this study are to investigate the prognostic significance of several viral and molecular tumor markers for HIV-related diffuse large B-cell lymphoma to advance clinical care and provide insight for new molecular therapeutic targets.

History of chronic comorbidity and risk of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma not receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor prophylaxis.